Coupler



Nov. 1, 1927.

- I 1,647,544 D. ROBINSON COUPLER Filed March 10. 1926- I) awveht oz $5 61mm, I

Patented Nov. 1 1927;

DAVID ROBINSON, or oLnvELANn, onto, ASSEGNOR T6 ewtonian iaaritnannnnnn a srnnn oAsrINes coMrA vY, or CLEVELAND, onto, A scaresrron or onto.

Application filed March 10, 1926. Serial No. 93,649,.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofthe shank of a car coupler of'the standardD-type to which my improvements have been applied; F

2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof Fig. 8 is a section on line IIIIII of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Fig. 3. r

My invention relates to couplers, and particularly to couplers of the standard D-type,

of course, formed by the core, which must .be reinforced and held in place by core rods or bars, and hence the problem of re inforcing the key slot is complicated by the requirement that enough space must be left for the core and its reinforcing rods. In working out a solution of this problem I have provided reinforcements which connect the metal adjacent the ends of the key slot with the top and bottom sides of the shank,

"and at the same time I have left sufficient openings and room for the core and its supporting and reinforcing rods. My invention also comprises various features whichI shall hereinafter claim. i

' the draft gear.

Referring to the drawings, the coupler shank 2, which is of the standard D-type, has in it a transverse slot 3 fora key (not shown), by which connection, is made with In the standard D-coupler he metal adjacentthe ends of the key slot is, connected only with the side walls 4 of the shank, and no connection is made with thetop and bottom walls 5'andi6, but in the present embodiment of my invention I have arranged two vertically extending ribs? and 8 in the vertical central plane of the shank which provide bearings for thekey and are integrally connected with the curved walls 9 and 10 at the front and rear ends of the key slot 3. It will be seen that the ribs 7 and 8 tie the front'and rear walls 9 and 10 of the key slot'directly to the top and bot-.

tom walls andfi of the shank, and also. provide direct bearings for the key, thus carrying part of the load direct from the,

key'slot to the top and bottomshank walls 5 and 6, thereby effecting a distribution of the load. to all four of the exterior walls of the shank. Betweenthe ribs 7 and 8 and the side walls 4 of the shank are longitudinally extending spaces llof substantial size,

which provide room to permit the use of a sufficiently rods.

When the coupler is cast the'hollow in terior of the shank is formed by a core which strong core with its reinforcing shank and is supported by, a core print at the hole 12. This c or'emust, of course, be, reinforced by corerods, and the spaces 11a on either side of the ribs 7 and 8 provide sufficient room for the coreand its reinforcing rods at these points.

Coupler shanks constructed in accordance with my invention are very much stiffer than;

extends clear 'to the rear of the coupler shanks constructed in accordance with the" present standard,- and in comparative tests will Withstand substantially greater compressive loads. My improved shank, 'furthermore, is shown tobe formed with longer standard, but in spite of the weakening of the shank by the longer key slot, it will, in

the particular embodiment of my invention shown herein, withstand a" compressive load i of at least fifty thousand pounds greater than with the presentstandard. V

My improved construction has the further key slots than are used with the present advantage of avoiding the formation of section of metal sufficiently thick to cause shrinkage and possible distortion.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description tion, in the useiof suchlterms and expressions, of excluding any'mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, but recognize that various structura'l modifications are possible within the scope of the invention" claimed:

.lVhat I claim is j l. A coupler having ahollow shank with a transversely extendingkeyslot therein, the metal attheforward' and rear sides of the and" notof limitation, and I haveno inten-J key slot joining the side walls ofthe shank; V vertically extending ribs integral with the top and bottom walls of the shank and tying the fore and aft walls of the key "slot to the top and bottom walls of the shank, each rib having on either side an opening connecting the key slot with the hollow portion of the shank.

2. A coupler havinga hollow shank with a transversely extending key slot therein, the metal at the forward side of the key slot joining the side walls 01 the shank and the metal at the rear side of the key slot joining the side Walls of the shank, the metal at the forward and 'rear sides of the key slot being united by a central web above and below the key slot independently of the side walls of the shank.

3. A coupler having a hollow shank with a transversely extending key slot therein, the metal at the forward and rear sides of the key slot joining the side walls of the shank; Vertically extending ribs integral with the top and bottom walls of the shank and tying the tore and aft walls of the key slot to the top and bottom walls of the shank, each rib having a portion connecting the rear Wall of the coupler shank directly to the sides of the key slot.

DAVID ROBINSON 

